For many years, Rushden was the Town That Dropped Off the Map. The railway station was closed. The trackbed was built on. The Town’s lifeblood, the Boot & Shoe Industry decamped to China.
Driving north up the A6 from Bedford, Rushden didn’t appear on any road signs until you’d almost reached the town. Then something magical happened.
Two small local football clubs were persuaded to merge to form Rushden & Diamonds FC. The new club received funding from a local businessman and a new ground was built.
The new club acquired some decent players (including at least one international). It started winning matches and got promoted to the Football League. It didn’t become a “household name”, but some people as far away as Southampton had heard of it.
Rushden wasn’t exactly “on the map”, but it was no longer an “err what?”
Sadly, it wasn’t to last. The catchment area was too small for the club and the money ran out. The club got relegated, and then folded.
However, all was not lost. A new club was formed, with a more modest ground.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds use the ground that was once home to “Rushden Rangers”. They play in one of the very lowest leagues, the eighth-tier,Northern Premier League Division One Midlands league.
The club is now starting to make waves. They have beaten Morecambe, Kimberley Miners Welfare, Long Eaton United, Desborough Town, Peterborough Sports, and Braintree Town.
Diamonds have now been drawn to play League One’s Burton Albion in the FA Cup.
It is an amazing achievement for Diamonds. They have never before reached the “first round” of the Cup.
Nene Herald wish them luck in their coming match!
